Arsenal have reportedly moved to the front of the queue in the fight to sign Real Madrid striker Rodrygo, with Gunners director Edu reportedly believing he is a step ahead of Premier League rivals adding Liverpool and Manchester City.
The Brazilian star has proven to be one of Los Blancos’ most sensible signings in recent years, considering himself one of their most trusted players and having contributed to 90 goals (50 goals and 40 assists) in 206 games for Real Madrid. The 23-year-old is one of the first names in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad this season, there is a developing school of ideas that suggests Rodrygo’s long career at the club is in serious jeopardy.
Indeed, Real president Florentino Perez will embark on one of the most ambitious summers for newcomers in many years, with three big-name signings in the pipeline.
And while their chances of reaching an agreement to sign Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies remain frozen, the transfers of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick have already been agreed.
The arrival of the latter two puts Rodrygo in jeopardy and welcoming his vast galaxy of stars to his line-up next season will certainly give Ancelotti a headache.
However, to alleviate this dilemma, and in a bid to recoup some of their summer expenses, a recent hypothesis has claimed that the Spanish giants are looking to cash in on one of their strikers, with Rodrygo regarded as the likely top star. . Move on.
To that end, he has been linked with a move to Liverpool this week; an ideal replacement for talisman star Mo Salah if the Egyptian star accepts the offer of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.
There has also been speculation that Manchester City could also be looking to sign the former Santos player with World Cup winner Julián Álvarez as part of a potential transfer deal.
However, according to the latest reports in Spain, the two Premier League men will be beaten by Arsenal and ambitious director Edu is likely already close to reaching an agreement.
According to the report, the Gunners boss has a huge summer budget to bolster Arsenal’s attack, with a new striker and winger in his sights. And he is reportedly willing to pay up to €100 million (£85 million) to catch Real. Take credit from the player, providing a large chunk of that sum early on to grease the wheels of a deal.
What’s more, the Gunners already have a strong Brazilian connection in north London and it is claimed that the presence of the three Gabriels (Magalhaes, Jesus and Martinelli) can tip the scales in Arsenal’s favour.
Edu didn’t reveal much about his summer moving plans, but admitted that there were already plans for a big foray into the market.
“Well, I understand what the fans are asking for, but we already have our goals,” Edu said recently. “We’ve planned a lot what we’re going to face and I’ll be worried if we don’t get a goal. “A lot of goals and we created chances, which is the opposite because we created a lot and scored a lot of goals.
“The plan is to check it every year and I think we’re in a smart moment. Let’s see if we can continue with Array
In addition to a winger, Edu is also preparing to bring in a new centre-forward, with Viktor Gyokeres reportedly topping their wanted list; He also has a hefty €100 million exit clause.
In reality, deals for either may be out of reach for Arsenal, especially as it is highly likely that they will also sign a new midfielder.
The loss of Rodrygo would also be to the liking of Ancelotti, who is a big fan of the 23-year-old.
“He’s a special striker, he can play in all positions. He’s fast, smart, and effective in one-on-ones. The learning curve is over. He’s a Real Madrid player in every way,” the Italian said in 2022.
Rodrygo’s contract at the Bernabeu does not expire until the summer of 2028, after signing an extension in November. He operates on the front line, but tends to prefer a right-back role or play in the centre as the number 10.